jargon

¹

[ jahr-guhn, -gon ]

noun

1. the language, especially the vocabulary, peculiar to a particular trade, profession, or group:

   medical jargon.

2. unintelligible or meaningless talk or writing; gibberish.

   Synonyms: twaddle, gabble, babble

3. any talk or writing that one does not understand.
4. pidgin.
5. language that is characterized by uncommon or pretentious vocabulary and convoluted syntax and is often vague in meaning.

verb (used without object)

1. to speak in or write jargon; jargonize.

jargon

²

[ jahr-gon ]

noun

1. a colorless to smoky gem variety of zircon.

jargon

¹

/ ˈdʒɑːɡən /

noun

1. specialized language concerned with a particular subject, culture, or profession
2. language characterized by pretentious syntax, vocabulary, or meaning
3. gibberish
4. another word for pidgin

verb

1. intr to use or speak in jargon

jargon

²

/ dʒɑːˈɡuːn; ˈdʒɑːɡɒn /

noun

1. rare.
   mineralogy a golden yellow, smoky, or colourless variety of zircon

jargon

1. A special language belonging exclusively to a group, often a profession. Engineers, lawyers, doctors, tax analysts, and the like all use jargon to exchange complex information efficiently. Jargon is often unintelligible to those outside the group that uses it. For example, here is a passage from a computer manual with the jargon italicized: “The RZ887-x current loop interface allows the computer to use a centronics blocked duplex protocol .” ( See slang .)

Other Words From

• jargon·y jargon·istic adjective
• jargon·ist jargon·eer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of jargon¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English jargoun, from Middle French; Old French jargon, gargun, derivative of an unrecorded expressive base garg- designating the throat and its functions, as in gargle, gargoyle

Origin of jargon²

First recorded in 1760–70; from French, from Italian giargone, of uncertain origin; perhaps ultimately from Persian zargūn “gold-colored” ( zircon ( def ) ), equivalent to zar “gold” ( arsenic ( def ), gold ( def ), yellow ( def ) ) + gūn “color”; alternatively, perhaps akin to Old French jacincte, also jacunces, jargonce jacinth ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of jargon¹

C14: from Old French, perhaps of imitative origin; see gargle

Origin of jargon²

C18: from French, from Italian giargone, ultimately from Persian zargūn of the golden colour; see zircon

Synonym Study

See language.

Example Sentences

It also mentioned jargon, like “grade-level expectations”, and other details, like staff names, that only people close to the school would know.

From BBC

Social media generally breeds this problem of people getting so enmeshed in their subcultures that they forget that most people don't share their jargon or euphemisms.

From Salon

And second, the person had to be – in the jargon – “non-censurable.”

From BBC

The last nine years have shown us that being trained in understanding religious communities, traditions, and jargon is really important if we want to understand our political moment.

From Salon

Walz’s ease with cutting through political jargon to deliver a straight message appealed to Harris, according to a person close to her decision-making process.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• argot
• idiom
• lingo
• parlance
• patois
• slang
• vernacular
• vocabulary